Midwinter Bald Eagle Watch at Abiquiu Lake

Published Dec. 28, 2018
ABIQUIU LAKE, N.M. – Some of the volunteers counted eagles at fixed land viewing stations during the annual Midwinter Bald Eagle Watch, Jan. 7, 2017. In total of 12 eagles were counted.

ABIQUIU LAKE, N.M. – Some of the volunteers counted eagles at fixed land viewing stations during the annual Midwinter Bald Eagle Watch, Jan. 7, 2017. In total of 12 eagles were counted.

ABIQUIU, N.M. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Abiquiu Lake will host its annual Midwinter Eagle Watch event Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The event is open to the public; volunteers will meet at the Abiquiu Lake Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m. The Wildlife Center will be presenting a short, educational program on bald eagles. Also, hot coffee and snacks will be available. Volunteers are asked to dress warmly and bring binoculars, notepads, and drinking water.

The purpose of the eagle watch event is to gather individuals to help count eagles along standard, non-overlapping survey routes, as part of a nationwide Midwinter Bald Eagle survey. It is also a great opportunity to encourage shared environmental stewardship efforts with the public to promote wildlife conservation.

National Wildlife Federation officials have asked participants, in each state, to count eagles along standard routes, to provide data on count trends. The basic objectives of the survey are to index the total wintering bald eagle populations in the lower 48 states, determine eagle distribution during a standardized survey period, and to identify previously unrecognized areas of important winter habitat.

The annual midwinter survey represents a unique source of long-term, baseline data. Unlike nesting surveys, it provides information, on both breeding and non-breeding segments of the population, at a potentially limiting time of the year. The count has become a national tradition since 1984, and is an annual event at Abiquiu Lake. In addition to providing information on eagle trends, distribution, and habitat, the count has helped to create public interest in bald eagles and their conservation.

The Abiquiu Lake Project Office is located on Hwy 96, just 2 miles west of the Hwy 84 junction. For additional information, call the project office at 505-685-4371.

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Contact
Nathaniel Naranjo
505-685-4371
Nathaniel.i.naranjo@usace.army.mil

Release no. 18-064